River management software: a case study in interaction redesign

This paper presents an overview of the work currently being carried out in the analysis and redesign of a major piece of software. The software is used to model the catchment and behaviour of the water system, and is used for planning and analysis by civil engineers, hydrologists, and water authorities. It is based on the parameterisation and solution of a model, in which the components of the model such as reservoirs, pipes, rivers and drainage are connected together in a certain fashion, and effectively reduce to a set of differential equations. The evolution of modelling strategies and computing technologies over the past twenty years have led to the need for a redesign of the software to take full advantage of the facilities offered by modern computers and mathematics, and will allow the system to become interactive rather than batch-based. In determining the new design, users have been involved in the process from the beginning. This paper presents a case study in the techniques used to obtain the necessary information from users, and highlights the specific difficulties encountered during that process. The aim of the new system is to support all users much more effectively in their actual tasks, rather than to force them to use inefficient work practices dictated by software with poorly thought-out interaction. We present the methods used in practice to organise and structure the information gathered, and illustrate how the rest of the development lifecycle will incorporate user involvement in order to produce a much more supportive and user-centred system.